Hydrangea plant named `BCHY-14.020&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named ‘BCHY-14.020’ originated as a controlled cross between varieties. The variety ‘BCHY-14.020’ has attractive inflorescences with sepalous florets with attractive sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BCHY-14.020’.

Variety denomination: ‘BCHY-14.020’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theSaxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangeamacrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BCHY-14.020’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled crossbetween a variety known to the inventor as ‘BC6.8’ which was the seedparent and the commercial variety known as ‘Oslo’ which was the pollenparent. ‘BC6.8’ was the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/135,035 which became U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,144. ‘BC6.8’ originatedas a seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented varietyknown as ‘LK49’ which was the seed parent and a commercial variety knownas ‘Venedig’ to the inventor which may be the subject of U.S. Plant Pat.No. 10,928 and registered as ‘Venice Raven’. ‘Venedig’ was the pollenparent of that cross. ‘LK49’ is relatively compact plant with wirystems, relatively small leaves, relatively small sepalous florets, andinflorescences that are resistant to being damaged by conditions incommercial coolers. The applicant is unaware as to whether thecommercial variety known as ‘Oslo’ is the subject of a patent in theUnited States or a foreign country or protected as a plant variety inthe United States or a foreign country. No observations of the parent‘Oslo’ were made.

The variety ‘BCHY-14.020’ has sepalous florets with somewhat variegatedsepal pigmentation at maturity and good commercial characteristics,including strong stems, a propensity to branch when pinched and apropensity to set infloresences on each stem and lateral branch. Thecolor of the sepals changes as the plant ages. The plant is similar toU.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,757 entitled Hydangrea Plant named ‘BC6.1’. Belowis a table comparing the new variety to similar varieties.

TABLE 1 Commer- ical variety ‘Venedig’ which may be US US US Plant NewPlant Plant Patent Variety Patent Patent 10,928 ‘BCHY- 24,144 23,757‘Venice 14.020’ ‘BC6.8’ ‘BC6.1’ Raven’ Leaf  9.0 cm wide ×  9 cm × 13 cm11 cm wide × size 13.5 cm long 13 cm wide × 15.5 cm long— 16 cm sourceUS long PP 10,928 Plant 14″ in 6″ pot. 13″ in 15″ in 12″ in 6″ pot—height  6″ pot.  6″ pot observed controls grown alongside ‘BC6.1’. StemStrong Strong Stems are Strong— strength strong but observed benefitcontrols from grown being alongside staked ‘BC6.1’. Sepal Treated withBoth sides Upper Upper side of Pigmen- aluminum— of sepals sides sepalsis R.H.S. tation upper sides of are R.H.S. of sepals 84 A (violet sepalsare 71 A (red- are group). Under R.H.S. 96 C purple R.H.S. side ofsepals is (violet-blue group). 86 A R.H.S. 85 A group) at their (violet(violet group) centers and group); observed controls R.H.S 83 B Undergrown alongside (violet sides ‘BC6.1’. group) at of sepals theirmargins, are and under R.H.S. sides of 88 D sepals are (violet R.H.S. 88B group) (violet-blue group). Sepalous 70 mm 70 mm 60 mm to 70 mm—Floret 70 mm observed Size— controls Diameter grown alongside ‘BC6.1’.

The new cultivar ‘BCHY-14.020’ has been successfully asexuallyreproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery inHalf Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor with itsdistinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttingswere used from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexuallyreproduced, successive generations grown in Half Moon Bay, Calif. showthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for‘BCHY-14.020’ remains firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show thetypical plant form at 1 year when grown in a commercial nursery andforced to bloom, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an entire plant treated with aluminum showingits form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the colorof its sepals.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an entire plant treated with aluminum.

FIG. 3 is a view of the base of the plant treated with aluminum. is aside view of entire plant treated with aluminum.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the underside of a panicle of a planttreated with aluminum.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the upper side of a leaf.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an entire plant treated with aluminum grown in adifferent cycle and with different aluminum treatments than the plantshown in FIGS. 1-5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants described are approximately a year old. The plant started outas cuttings, used from the stem of a grown plant. The plants shown werepinched early in their development to promote lateral branches. All ofthe plants pictured had soil that was periodically treated with aluminumto produce a different pigmentation. The plant shown in FIG. 6 was grownin a different cycle and treated with different amounts of aluminum thanthe plants shown in FIGS. 1-5. All measurements and color determinationsprovided are based on the plants grown in the same cycle and in the sameconditions as the plant shown in FIGS. 1-5.

‘BCHY-14.020’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, treatment withaluminum and day length. Color determinations were made with The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, developed in associationwith the Flower Council of Holland, located in Lieden.

THE PLANT

-   Origin: Controlled cross. The new cultivar originated as a seedling    from a controlled cross between the patented variety ‘BC6.8’—U.S.    Plant Pat. No. 24,144—which was the seed parent, and the commercial    variety ‘Oslo’ which was the pollen parent.-   Form: Upright, non-climbing, compact shrub. The mature plant with a    mature inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 13″    high and has a diameter of 15″ when grown in a 6″ pot with    appropriate soil amendments.-   Growth: Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is medium to    large. The plant branches easily with shoots forming at the base of    the plant. Lateral branches are similar in appearance and form to    the main stems.-   Stems: Lenticels are present. Stem lengths are approximately 9″.    Fasciation is absent. Lenticels are R.H.S. 86 A (violet group) and    are 1 to 3 mm long. The surface of young stems is glabrous. Stems    become woody as they age. The color of typical young stems and young    lateral branches is R.H.S. 144 A (yellow-green group). The older    portions of the stems are R.H.S. 199 A (grey-brown group). Younger    portions of the stems are 7 mm in diameter. Older portions of the    stems are 7 mm in diameter.-   Foliage: Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral branches.    -   -   Shape of leaf.—Elliptic with acute base and acute apex. Tips            of leaves are 10 mm long. Margins are serrate and not lobed.        -   Texture.—Glabrous; veins dominate on the underside of the            leaf and are sunken on the upper leaf surface. The upper            side of the leaf is moderately glossy. Variegation is            absent.        -   Color.—Mature leaves have an upper side that is R.H.S. 136 A            (green group), and an under side that is R.H.S. 137 C (green            group). Leaves are pinnately veined. The midvein and veins            branching off the midvein are large and prominent on the            underside of the leaves. Veins are R.H.S. 145 C            (yellow-green group). Leaves are as wide as 10.0 cm and 15            cm long. Petioles are smooth and approximately 2.5 cm long            and 4 mm wide. Petioles are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green            group).

BUDS

-   Form: Globose with 4 to 5 connate, elliptic, smooth petals. The    terminal and later-developing buds of the panicles are non-sepalous.    The majority of buds will develop into sepalous florets. The buds    are approximately 2 mm by 2 mm when very young. Buds can be 5 mm in    diameter and still unopened. Color of mature buds is R.H.S. 96 A    (violet-blue group) for the observed plants treated with aluminum.-   Aspect: Smooth.-   Arrangement: Borne on branched panicles.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Form: Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 70 individual florets (both    sepalous and non-sepalous) per inflorescence. Both sepalous florets    and non-sepalous florets are borne on the same panicle. Non-sepalous    florets are inconspicuous. Flowers do not produce a fragrance. The    peduncle for the inflorescence is strong and upright. There are very    few non-sepalous florets. The non-sepalous florets are located at    the terminal portion of the panicle and are later hidden by sepalous    florets. Florets, both sepalous and non-sepalous, have anthers and    style. Inflorescences are long-lasting. Florets near terminal floret    have less developed sepals and are less pigmented.-   Size of inflorescence: Medium. Individual inflorescence size is    dependent on the number of florets. A typical inflorescence can grow    as large as 8″ in diameter, and 4″ high.-   Shape: Globose. Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets    overlap one another. Sepals are persistent.-   Appearance: Showy.

FLORETS

-   General: The non-sepalous florets at the center of the panicles open    first. Sepalous and non-sepalous florets are perfect and complete.    Corolla: Generally, for both sepalous and non-sepalous florets there    are 4 petals. Petals are typically 4 mm long and 3 mm wide. Petals    are R.H.S. 97 A (violet-blue group) for observed plants treated with    aluminum. Lenticels are present on pedicels of both sepalous and    non-sepalous florets, lenticels and range in length from 1 mm to    3 mm. Lenticels are R.H.S. 80 A (purple-violet group). Pedicel    length for non-sepalous florets averages 3 mm. Pedicel length of    sepalous florets is approximately 40 mm in length for plants of this    age. Pedicels of both sepalous and non-sepalous florets continue to    elongate as the inflorescence ages. In the observed plants treated    with aluminum, pedicels range from 96 B (violet-purple group) at the    base of the pedicel to R.H.S. 145 B (yellow-green group) near the    floret when mature for observed plants treated with aluminum.-   Stamens: 8 to 12 stamens. Anther is regular and basally attached.    The stamens are 5 mm long and are R.H.S. 96 A (violet-purple group).    The anthers are 2 mm long and are R.H.S. 145 A (yellow-green group).    Pollen is scarce.-   Stigma: Typically three style each with two to four style also being    common. Each style has one stigma.-   Ovary: Ovary is partially inferior.-   Sepalous florets:    -   -   General.—Veins dominate on the underside of the sepals.        -   Number of sepals.—4 to 5 sepals per floret.        -   Aspect of sepals.—Smooth and glaucescent.        -   Shape of sepals.—Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges are            entire, but with some crenation.        -   Size of sepals.—As the florets mature, the sepals enlarge            and overlap each other more and more, until, often, there is            no space between the sepals when the petals of the florets            open. Sepals at maturity are typically 40 mm long and 50 mm            wide. Sepalous florets can be 70 mm in diameter. In the            observed plants treated with aluminum, the upper sides of            the sepals are variegated in color with the centers being            R.H.S. 96 C (violet-blue group) and the margins being R.H.S.            83 B (violet group). In the observed plants treated with            aluminum, the undersides are R.H.S. 88 B (violet group).            Pigmentation develops at the tips of the sepals and travels            inward towards base of the sepals.-   Fruit: None.-   Disease and pest resistance: Unknown.

Plants prefer milder temperatures.

Plants bloom in the spring but can be forced to bloom by placing in acold environment.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla plant named‘BCHY-14.020’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.